RE: Poor Women Didn t Have a Clue....Long

[Starcraft Dad]

 Last week when we camped, a lady and four very little kidlets pulled into the site next to us.  She has a brand new Camplite? PU with a slide out.  She had only opened it up once in the drive.
 
 When she got there it was after 10 p.m. and dark.  []  The poor women didn t have any experience what so ever backing a trailer, and I m not to experienced either, but we managed to get it in.  I then proceeded to go back to my site.
 
 First of all she didn t have any chocks and didn t even know what they were.  She unhooked, and away the camper went.[]  We cgot behind it and stopped it before it hit the motor home that it was rolling towards.[:@]  Hooked up and pulled it back into place and no levelers.  I ened up giving her some flat fire wood to help level and chock the PU.  Wasen t the best senario, but we had to work with what we had.  She thought you had to level it with the stabelizors.[]
 
 Finally got it all leveled and chocked then the pop upping started.  She got it up ok but didn t know that you had to pull the bunks out before the slide out.  I wasen t sure about that not knowing the slide out procedure but we managed to figure it out.   Next after she got everything pulled out, along came the door.  She didn t know how to do the door but I was able to help even tho somewhat different it worked basically the same as mine.  It wasn t until after midnight when she finally got it all situated.  I bet the neighbors loved that.
 
 Next was time to hook up the electrical.  Oh, oh, no cord.  So I let her borrow my extra until she could go to Walmart in the morning.   There were many other things I had to help her with>  I had a good time helping and it made me feel so good because I " WAS"  able to help her. []
 
 Thats where you all come in.  I would like to thank everyone here for the knowledge you share and the answers to stupid questions I have asked in the past.  Without you all, we would probably still be trying to get her PU up.  After all, I m still a newbie at this also.[][]

[6Quigs]

 Starcraft Dad

Thats where you all come in. I would like to thank everyone here for the knowledge you share and the answers to stupid questions I have asked in the past. Without you all, we would probably still be trying to get her PU up. After all, I m still a newbie at this also.

I have to agree with Harold on this.
 Sometimes I amaze even myself on the knowledge I have gained on popups just from all the reading here.
 Glad you were able to help her out, and I m sure you told her about PopupTimes and how soon she ll be an expert like you[]

[Turn Key]

 Starcraft Dad
If no one has told you today, your one of the good ones!!!  Real glad your with us!

[JemJen24]

 Starcraft Dad
As a woman who camps on her own I have to say, " Arrgggghhh" .  [: (] I made darn sure that the people at the camper store, my hubby, and all of you all here taught me " most"  of what I needed to do to set up, take down, and in case of an emergency before venturing out on my own.  Not a smart idea to go into it blindfolded.  Thank God you were there and you were still AWAKE! []

[Acts 2:38 girl]

 Starcraft Dad
I have a feeling there will be a new pop-up for sale in her neighborhood real soon!  []

[kathybrj]

 Starcraft Dad

ORIGINAL:  Starcraft Dad
 
 Thats where you all come in.  I would like to thank everyone here for the knowledge you share and the answers to stupid questions I have asked in the past.  Without you all, we would probably still be trying to get her PU up.  After all, I m still a newbie at this also.[][]
 

 
 Didya suggest to her to check out Pop Up Times?? [][] Maybe then she ll do better next time aorund!

[brainpause]

 Acts 2:38 girl

 

ORIGINAL:  Acts 2:38 girl
 
 I have a feeling there will be a new pop-up for sale in her neighborhood real soon!  []
 

 Was going to say the same thing! This is the kind of situation you see, where a popup was " bought last year, only used TWICE!"  If an owner gets frustrated, as I m sure she did, that s where bad experiences and slightly used popups happen. Knowledge is power!
 
 Larry

[Kelly]

 Starcraft Dad
[font=" comic sans ms" ]Nicely done, Harold.  Good to know there are people out there who are willing to help out!
 
 Nicely done to the rest of us for making it possible!  [][/font]

[NightOwl]

 Starcraft Dad
Yep---like you-all say, sometimes you can get a great deal when people dont know enough about popups before they start out. Our first popup was used " three times"   before we bought it, and  it  was mint--looked like it had just come off a showroom floor.  Why would someone buy something like this and not look into this a bit better in advance?  New or almost-new, they are a chunk of money.  On the other hand, maybe this lady hoped she d be fortunate enough to camp next to someone like Starcraft Dad.  (I agree with the others, ScD, ya done us proud![])
 
 I admire this mom for trying this with all her little kiddies, and if she ever gets it right,  camping with them could become part of some treasured memories.  (I hope this will be the case--we all know what a joy it can be (and what a source of laughter as we all  look back at our FSPUT (First Stupid popUp Tricks[])
 
 I read the TrailManor message board for over a year and a half, and this one about as long, before we bought our TM.  Together the members of both boards were a  good enough source of information that I was able to take the TM on a 1,800 mile round trip ALONE for its first outing and not have any problems.[][]

[angelsmom10]

 Starcraft Dad
I know it s a man thing, but didn t she have the owners manual.  I know that they are terrible about being very helpful, but they at least give you a start.
 
 I guess if all else fails, read the manual.
 
 Great job on helping glad to see you came to someones aid -- not many do that any more.

[labontefan]

 Starcraft Dad
I hope that lady isn t me this weekend! [] Granted, I ve taken the pop-up on several trips so far but this will be the first time to a real campground (with no racetrack attached) and the first time with hookups. Also, I m camping with my cousin (also female) who has never camped in a pop-up before. My usual camping buddy is in Florida for the summer.
 
 However, I NEVER put the camper up or take it down without the owner s manual (or the instruction sheet I typed up from the owner s manual) in my hand, or somewhere I can read it. I know I d forget something important if I didn t take it step by step!!
 
 One thing in my favor...the campground has lots of pull-through sites and I got one! I ll save back-ins till I ve had a chance to practice.

[NightOwl]

 labontefan

 

ORIGINAL:  labontefan
 
 I hope that lady isn t me this weekend! []
 However, I NEVER put the camper up or take it down without the owner s manual (or the instruction sheet I typed up from the owner s manual) in my hand, or somewhere I can read it. I know I d forget something important if I didn t take it step by step!!
 
 
 

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 Ann, I am willing to be that " that lady"  isnt you this weekend!!![]
 
 Also, from what ScD wrote, I figure she hasnt been anywhere near the manual or she didnt have one.  Most manuals (and mine is one) really give you the details of chocking the  wheels and never using the stabilizers  for support, etc. etc--the whole ball of wax from beginning to end--so it seems like maybe this poor soul believed in the saying we so often quote here:  " ONLY after all else fails, read the directions"   !![][]
 
 Hope you and the cousin and the popup have a super time!!!

[Starcraft Dad]

 Starcraft Dad
I made about 100 Pop Up Times business cards that I give out to the PU people I talk to at the campgrounds.  Most of them have never heard of the forums.  I keep them in my PU all the time.  There are a lot of newbie pop uppers out there.  Maybe with my cards they will come and check PUT out and join.  
 
 And yes, she did get one of the cards.  She was a little upset, but laughed most of the time.  She wasen t going to let this little set back keep her from her camping adventures.  She loves to camp (husband hates it)  and has no intentions of giving up.  She just " chalked"  it up to a new learning experience.

[SheBantam]

 Starcraft Dad
Thank goodness the Jayco did not have a slide.  I had to stop my setting up when step-daughter and hubby got to RJ Ranch and walk them through the set up (Take down was worse). Raymond came in even later so Jeffrey was not there, he can set up both trailers...takes after his mother. Raymond does not have a clue wither.

[Jo Ann]

 Starcraft Dad
You re a good man DM (darling member)!!!!
 
 and you are right about the knowledge here!!!!